Names In The News

In Boston, Greg Bedard profiled Athletes First President BRIAN MURPHY, who handles day-to-day operations for“one of the signature sports agencies in the NFL with about 90 active players.” Athletes First Chair & CEO DAVID DUNN said, “Of anybody I’ve ever been around, he has the best mixture of people skills and intelligence. If you put him in a room with the collective bargaining agreement and a problem to solve, he’ll solve it. If you put him in a social situation, he’ll win everyone over as well.” Murphy said, “I didn’t always want to be a sports agent because I was very leery about the types of people who were sports agents. I probably wouldn’t have taken that jump if it wasn’t for Dave. He’s the name, been doing it for 20 years, but he gives me complete authority to run our company and we share a vision for our company” (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/2).

PUTTING IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE:In Charlotte, Michael Gordon profiled WFNZ-AM’s TAYLOR ZARZOUR and noted the radio host always ends “The Drive” by saying, “Whether you agree or disagree, it’s all about Him.” Zarzour has been “using his sign-off for almost a decade.” He said, “This is not a publicity stunt. I’m not looking for any reaction. I’m not climbing on any soapbox. I’m just trying to remind everybody about what’s most important” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/1).

DAY IN THE LIFE: YAHOO SPORTS’ Marc Spears noted 76ers F ANDRE IGUODALA “shadowed a venture capitalist and visited the New York Stock Exchange as part of a week-long internship with Bank of America Merrill Lynch arranged by his financial planner.” If the NBA lockout continues, Iguodala is “considering taking a separate internship with a hedge fund or an apparel company” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/29).

STYLIN' AND PROFILIN': MLS Galaxy MF DAVID BECKHAM is on the cover of the October issue of Wall Street Journal Magazine, and WSJ’s Jason Gay writes under the header, “The International Man: David Beckham Suits Up ... And Contemplates The Autumn Of His Career.” Beckham is “still a name, still a significant global brand, one of the handful of seven-continent superstars in sport.” He has “managed to stay relevant through his many career evolutions.” Beckham said, “I’m totally involved in everything that goes out there in stores. I don’t just sign with a company and give my name to do whatever they want. Everything that goes out there is something I would wear” (WSJ Magazine, 10/’11 issue).

NAMES: Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT was inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences on Saturday at Harvard Univ. (AP, 10/1)....The Magic said that at their annual golf outing last Thursday benefitting the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation they “raised approximately $200,000.” In Orlando, Brian Schmitz notes the Magic “perform great work in the community,” and the amount raised by the team “says something about its corporate sponsors and season-ticket holders” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/3)....Four Charlotte-area high schools are receiving a weight room makeover thanks to a $250,000 grant program from the NFL Panthers (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/30)....Former Red Sox manager TERRY FRANCONA on Saturday had dinner with his daughter at Lucca in Boston's North End. Meanwhile, Bruins F SHAWN THORTON and Red Sox 3B KEVIN YOUKILIS were “hanging out with the Stanley Cup at the Cask 'n Flagon on Saturday for a private party” hosted by Bruins Dir of Media Relations MATT CHMURA (BOSTON HERALD, 10/3)....Red Sox C JASON VARITEK and P JONATHAN PAPELBON last night “partied at Strega Waterfront” in Boston (BOSTON HERALD, 10/3)....Knicks F CARMELO ANTHONY on Friday took Heat F LEBRON JAMES and G DWYANE WADE, and Celtics F PAUL PIERCE and G RAY ALLEN to the five-year anniversary party of N.Y. nightclub Tenjune (N.Y. POST, 10/3).

IN MEMORY: Former NFLer PETER GENT, 69, passed away Friday in Bangor, Mich. The former Cowboys WR published the ’73 novel, “NORTH DALLAS FORTY,” which “exposed the drug use, hypocrisy and pervasive pain in the life of a pro football team” (WASHINGTON POST, 10/1).